Dream comes true in West Bridgewater for farm family

The Readings plan to grow both organic and conventional vegetables and fruit on the farm, including apples, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash and strawberries.

By Sandra L. ChurchillEnterprise correspondent

WEST BRIDGEWATER – A new wave of farming has just been made possible on the town’s historic Hayward Farm, with new owners Peter and Lynn Reading.
The Trust for Public Land and Massachusetts Agricultural Preservation Program protected the newly named, 74-acre Reading Farm on East Center Street for just under $1 million.
“I am thrilled I was able to help make the Readings’ dream of owning their own farm come true while preserving a local food source and a beautiful farm landscape, said Trust for Public Land Project Manager Darci Schofield.
The Readings plan to grow both organic and conventional vegetables and fruit on the farm, including apples, tomatoes, pumpkins, squash and strawberries.
“We can’t wait to get going,” said Lynn Reading. “I love being able to watch something grow from a small seed and become something more, and I love educating our customers and their children about where our food really comes from.”
The Trust for Public Land bought the farmland from Tara Realty Associates, a subsidiary of Tedeschi Food Shops. The land was formerly considered for possible commercial development or a solar farm.
The state placed an agricultural preservation restriction on the land after town residents turned down the purchase at the annual town meeting last June.
The agricultural restriction mandates that the land must be used for farming, which drops its value to commercial developers, and enabled the Readings to buy the farm at a less-competitive price.
“We struggled for more than 14 years to buy a farm, but everything was too expensive,” said Pete Reading. “Then we got the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“In Massachusetts, we’re excited to see a strong consumer interest in locally-grown food,” said Schofield, “but many farmers can’t afford to buy land, and the Trust for Public Land is committed to preserving local farm land so communities can have access to locally-grown food, farmers can achieve their dreams, and we can preserve beautiful natural spaces for future generations.”
The Readings previously operated Billingsgate Farm in Plympton and commuted to rented farmland in several different towns.
In addition to growing produce, they organized a corn maze and held hay rides, outdoor concerts, and charitable events.
Their wholesale business included deliveries to Whole Foods and other grocery stores in the region.